Metallic power-belt.



E. A. BOHLMAN.

METALLIC POWER BELT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. s, 1912.

1,113,746; Patented 0ct.13,1914.

ERNEST A. BOHLMAN, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO 01 CHICAG Q,ILLINOIS.

JAMES E. CAGNEY, JR,

METALLIC POWER-BELT.

7 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ERNEST A. BoHpMAN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county ofLinn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Metallic Power- Belts of which the following -is aspecification.

My invention relates in general to power belts for transmitting powerfrom one point to another, and more particularly to that class of beltsknown as metallic or chain belts, and aims to provide a belt of thistype which will be strong, durable and efiicient, and at the same timesufliciently flexible to permit it to be used on pulleys of smalldiameter and on pulleys closely mounted together. i

Another object of my invention is to provide a power belt which will beso shaped as to accurately fit the grooves of ooved. pulleys, each ofthe portions of the be t coming successively in contact therewithbeing-1f exact duplicates of each other, and all being accurately shapedand dimensioned. Wh1le it is true that power belts of a number of typesdiffering widely in details have constructed to fit the grooves ofgrooved pulleys, they all have, so far as I am aware, been composed of-aplurality of links and solid side bars, the side bars'having their outerfaces inclined to give the belt the form which adapts it to fit thegrooved pulley's. These side bars have been rolled or milled to providethese inclined faces. Practice has demonstrated the fact that because ofthe necessity of these operations it has been found practicallyimpossible to construct theside bars of the power belt all of uniformdimensions. Where the slightest variation in the form of the sidebars ispresent the portions of the belt having side bars of larger dimensionsbecome wedged more tightly in the grooves than the parts having thesmaller dimensions, often causingthe belt to stick in the pulleys, or atbest providing an uneven distribution of the strain upon the links.

It is an object of this invention to so construct and arrange the partsof a power belt that anaccurate and uniform fit with the pulleys will beproduced throughout the entire length of the belt.

' A still further object of my invention is Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed September 3, 1812. Serial No. 718.189.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

interruption of the work- Another aim of my invention is to provide abelt which will, while efiiciently performing the other objects of theinvention, be cheap to manufacture, easily assembled and durable in.operation.

Further aims and many of the advantages 1 I of my invention will beapparent as it is better understood from the following description whichtaken in connection with the I accompanying drawing discloses apreferred embodiment thereof.

On the drawings :Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a powerbelt made in pursuance of my invention with parts broken away; Fig. 2 isa top plan view of the belt shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a verticalsectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a similarview taken on the line 4.4= of Fig. 1.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawingthe power belt consists primarily of aplurality of links 10 and sidebars 11, the side bars 11 being arranged in pairs and preferably rigidlyconnected together by pins 12 which are disposed through apertures 13formed in the ends of the links. The ends of the pins 12 are reduced indiameter and provided with flattened surfaces 14 to permit them to fittightly in elongated apertures formed in the side bars for the purpose.The central portion of each pin 12 is formed to provide a smoothcylindrical surface upon which a plurality ofrollers 15 are adapted tohear. The rollers 15 are preferably inclosed in a housing 16 which isprovided at each end thereof with an in wardly extending flange 17 Theseflanges are preferably made integral with the housing. and preferablyextend in and bear upon the enlarged central portion of the pins 12.

In Fig. 4 the housing 16 is shown as split circumferentially as at 18 topermit the housing and rollers to be readily mounted upon the pin,although it obvious that the housing may be made in one piece ifdesired, and the rollers placed in the housing before the pin ispositioned.

In order that the lubricant may be prevented as much as possible fromoozing out between the pin and the housing, the flanges 17 areconstructed to fit accurately upon the cylindrical centrally enlargedportion of the pin 12, and I find it preferable to obtain this fit byconstructing the housing of such dimensions that when the parts arefirst assembled the flanges 17 will be in snug engagement with thesurface of the pin. When the parts are so constructed the movement ofthe belt when in actual operation will in a very-short time wear awaythe edges of the flanges the desired amount to permit them to turneasily upon the pins and yet remain'in contact therewith about theentire periphery of the pins. Further wearing is prevented by therollers which at this point in the operation assume the strain placedupon the belt.

It is apparent that in providing a housing for the flanges which extendsdown over and embraces the ends of the rollers rather than providingdisks closing the ends of the housing, such as have been previouslyemployed, I have provided means for retaining within the housing anylubricant applied to the bearings, as the centrifugal force whichusually urges the lubricant out between the disks and the ends of thehousing encircling the rollers as the belt travels around a pulley -willserve merely to dispose the lubricant against the inner surface of thewalls of the housing, no crack being provided between the edge of thehousing and the member retaining the roller hearings in position. It isapparent, therefore, that unless an excessive amount of lubricant beemployed, no

lubricant will be permitted to work out from the moving parts on to thefriction members which contact with the pulleys.

The power belt is given a shape adapting it to fit the grooves of agrooved pulley by embracing each pair of side bars with a framegenerally designated as 21, which is composed primarily of a top plateor spacing member 22 and a housing or arch 23 preferably formed ofsuitable metallic material. The plate 22. which is substantially flat,is provided with a pair of recesses 24 formed in each transverse side ofthe plate, and with elongated apertures 25 formed parallel to andadjacent'each end thereof. The tops of the side bars are recessedintermedi ate their ends as at 26 to provide an upstanding lug 27 ateach end thereof, which is adapted to enter into the recess 2 of theplate 22 to hold the same against movementrelatively to the side bars.The housing 23 is formed from a metal strap bent into the arch shapeshown to provide a pair of up wardly extending inclined walls 28 Thematerial forming the intermediate portion connecting the bottom of thewalls is left substantially flat, and the ends of this portion aresevered from the bottom portion of the walls and bent downwardlysubstantially at right angles to form the lugs 29 whose use will behereinafter defined. The edges at the top of the walls are preferablycut away at the ends to form upon the upper. end of each wall a lug 31adapted to be inserted through the apertures 25 in the plate 22. At thebase of each wall 28 a lug 32 is formed by cutting the material of thewall and bending the portion thus set off inwardly at right angles tothe bottom portion 30. Although the housings are not literally V-shaped,nevertheless, in view of the fact that belts of this general characteradapted to cooperate with grooved pulleys are commercially known as Vbelts, I shall in lieu of a more accurate descriptive term hereinafterrefer to the housings as being substantially V-shaped. The lower edgesof the side bars 11 are cut away intermediate the ends thereof toprovide recesses 33 to receive the lu s 32. Upon the outer faces of thetwo side walls 28 of each housing 23, and preferably extending beneaththe bottom portion 30 is positioned a friction member 34 formed of asheet of suitable material. The sheet is cut to permit the lugs 29 toextend therethrough, and these lugs are provided with recesses 36 whichserve for the reception of a key 37 adapted to hold the sheet offrictional material in position. This key is constructed of a heavypiece of strap metal curved longi tudinally to permit its ends to besimultaneously inserted in-the recesses 36. After the frictional sheetof material 35 is positioned the ends of the key 37 are placed in therecesses 36 and pressure exerted upon the key, flattening it and forcingthe ends through the recesses. When desired these ends may be slightlytapered or they may be bent as shown in the drawing either before orafter the key is in position to prevent the key from being displacedwhen the belt is in use.

While in the present embodiment of the invention and in many adaptationsthereof the friction sheets are described as secured merely at theirbottoms, they may, if it is desired, be carried up over the spacinmembers and secured together or to the c ain in any suitable manner.

It will be readily understood that accuracy in the inclination anddimension of the outer faces of the links shaped to enga e the groovesof a grooved pulley may be easily and cheaply attained by the use ofsubstantially V-shaped housings providing inclined side walls, and thatthese housings may be removed without disturbing the relatively movingparts of the belt should the housings become bent or broken in use, and

. that the friction sheets mav also U be replaced by merely removing thekeys 37.

-It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the form,construction and arrangement of the parts without departing fromcthespirit or scope of the invent-ion, or sacrificing any of its advantages,the form hereinbefore described being merely one preferred embodimentthereof. a

I claim 1. A power chain composed of alternately arranged links and airsof side bars, a substantially V-shaped ousing secured to each pair ofside bars, the side walls of said housing diverging upwardly to presentinclined outer faces, a' plate rigidly connected with the topsof saidside bars and also rigidly connected with the upper ends of -saidhousings, lugs on the side walls of each housing positionedto' engagewith corresponding depressions in the lower edges of the sidebarswhereby said housing is precluded from movement longitudinally ofthe chain, and a sheet of frictional material disposed over the outerfaces of said housing.

2,. A power belt comprising a flexible link chain composed ofalternately arranged pivpair of side bars,

otally connected links and pairs of side bars, a metallic framecomprising a housing having upwardly diverging side walls and a spacingplate disposed over the side bars and rigidly connected with the upperends of said housing, said side bars being provided with upwardlyextending lips to engage in corresponding notches formedin the spacingplate and also provided with'depressions on their lower edges to receivelugs struck'inwardly from the side walls of said housing, said housingand spacing plate being thereby rigidly secured to the side bars, and asheet of frictional material disposed about the housing.

y 3. A power belt comprising side bars arranged in pairs, linksconnecting the said side bars, a frame having inclined sidemembersrigidly connected to and embracing a material secured to the saidframe and disposed over the outer inclined faces of said side members ofthe said frame.

4. A power belt comprising side bars arranged in pairs, side bars andpivotally secured thereto, a spacing member secured to the top of a pairof the said side bars, and inclined side members secured together at oneend and engaging said spacing member at their other en s.

5. A power belt comprising side bars arranged in pairs, linksalternating with and pivotally secured to said pairs, a plate ofsuitable said side bars having a plurality of apertures therethrough, ah

ousingof suitable belt comprising a flexible.

and a sheet of frictional links alternating with said metallic materialdisposed above material bent to provide inclined side members, the edgesof the said housing being formed to protrude through the recesses in thesaid to plate, means for preventing movement 0 the said plate andhousing longitudinally of the side bars, and means for securing theparts in position. 6. A power belt comprising side bars, linksconnecting said side bars, a sheet of frictional material disposedoutside said side bars, and means located beneath said sheet forretaining the same in position.

7. A power belt comprising side bars, links connecting said side bars, ahousing embracing said side bars, a sheet of frictional materialdisposed about said housing, and

means extending beneath the housing through said sheet for securingthesheet in position.

8. A power belt comprising side bars, links connecting the same, ahousing disposed about a pair ofside bars and having a plurality ofdownwardly depending lugs, a sheet of frictional material disposed aboutthe said housing and above the ends of the.

said lugs, and means engaging said lugs for securing said sheet inposition.

9. A power belt comprising a pair of side bars, a housing disposed aboutsaid side bars and provided with a plurality of apertured lugs, a sheet.of frictional material disposed about the said housing, and meansdisposed throughythe aperture in the said lugs to retain the sheet inposition.

10. A power belt comprising a pair of side bars, a housing disposedabout said side bars and provided with a plurality of anertured lugs, asheet of frictional materialdisposed about the said housing, and a keypositioned in the apertures of the said lugs and having its ends bentoutwardly therefrom for retaining the said sheet in position.

'11. A power belt comprising a flexible link-chain, composed ofalternately arranged pivotally connected links and pairs of side bars, asubstantially V-shaped metalic housing embracing each pair of side bars.said housings having their bases disposedbeneath the side bars and theirside walls diverging upwardly from said bases, spacing members disposedover thechain and between the upwardly projecting ends of said housingside walls whereby the sidewalls are held apart to present inclinedouter faces, sheets of frictional material disposed outside'saidhousings, and means for securing said housings and spacing members tothe chain.

12. A power belt comprising a flexible link chain, composed ofalternately arranged pivotally connected links and pairs of side bars, asubstantially V-shaped metallic member straddling a pair of side bars. aspacing member of greater width than the chain disposed between the freeends of said V-shaped member, a layer of frictional material disposedover the outer faces of said V-shaped member, said spacing memler, saidV-shaped member and said frictional material being secured to the chainand held against movement longitudinally of said chain.

13. A power belt, comprising a plurality of pivotally connected links, aframe embracing one of said links and held against movementlongitudinally of the belt, said frame comprising a top spacing memberprovided at its sides with recesses, and a housing embracing the saidlinks and having ears disposed is said recesses and bent 15 to engagethe upper face of said spacing member.

IRA J. WILSQN, M. A. Kmnm.

